10 Questions with Jack Cornes, Winemaker at Sacred Hill (Scottish Exclusive)
Jack Cornes is the Hawke’s Bay winemaker for Sacred Hill Vineyards. Born in Tamworth, England, he emigrated with his parents to New Zealand when he was a child. His love for wine took root in a small French village in southern France.
Ten Questions:
01. Why is your brand so special?
We are a family-owned brand with one of the oldest Chardonnay vineyards in New Zealand on its own roots, which arguably produces the best Chardonnay in the country. Plus, we back it up with three sensational reds that stand up against some of the best producers from around the world.
02. How did you get to where you are now?
When my wife and I lived in London, one of my flatmates was an Egyptian Kiwi. His family had a place in La Livinière in the Languedoc and we holidayed there. It was amazing: old men playing petanque, old ladies giving you kisses on the cheeks, vineyards dating back to Roman times. It really captured my imagination then I started looking into where I could study winemaking.
When we moved back to Auckland, I was working for the Department of Courts looking after their IT systems. We took some friends on a wine tasting in West Auckland and I got talking to a cellar door lady about job opportunities in the industry. A couple of weeks later my wife said ‘why don’t we do it?’ It was a bungee jump moment. I jumped.
03. What has been your greatest learning in this job?
I’m working in an area that I truly love and believe in. Hawke’s Bay’s red wines capture the essence of the soils and can compete with the best in the world, especially Syrah – I have a soft spot for Syrah.
04. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received along the way?
Try not to have a baby during a vintage. I failed with the first child – my daughter Madison arrived on March 16 right in the middle of the 2007 Chardonnay harvest. We got it right second time around: Harry arrived in August 2010.
05. What has been the most edifying moment of your working life to date?
Understanding how important it is to value others. When I was a cellar hand, we’d have a vintage party at the winemaker’s house and he would thank everyone personally for their effort. Everyone came out of the vintage thinking they were appreciated and did something important and that is something I will endeavour to do.
06. If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing with your life?
A cheesemaker: I used to watch a programme called Cheese Tales where a funny Englishman would travel the world, from the high lands of Japan to the bottom of Argentina, discovering cheese along the way and I thought ‘that would be really nice’. It’d have to be sheep or goat’s cheese – I’m not lactose intolerant but sheep and goats have a much smaller impact on the environment than cows!
07. Name your ultimate fantasy dinner party guests
Sir Edmund Hillary. He did something no-one else in the world had done and remained incredibly humble. I’d also invite the late Kiwi comedian Billy T James, and my wife, of course. Nina Simone would provide the musical entertainment.
08. If a film was made of your life, who would play you and why?
Ralph Fiennes. He’s played a lot of varied roles in his time, as have I: an English teacher in Japan, IT guy, winemaker…
09. What would you order as your desert island drink?
A Caipirinha. When I was 18 I lived in Brazil for a year on a school exchange. I arrived during Carnival week and there were all these ladies in skimpy bikinis and I was handed these sweet and sour lime cocktails. I was a boy from rural Manawatu and it was a real eye opener!
10. What is your one guilty pleasure, or are there more than one?
If my children are at a sleepover and my wife’s at work, I cook a big, juicy steak, pour a glass of Syrah and put on a sci-fi movie.